The title of singer-songwriter Beth Orton's first disc in six years refers to the time of year when maple trees are "tapped," and it had a fall-like sense of maturity, both musically and emotionally.

"An elegant affair, whose ruminations are given pleasing lustre by Tucker Martine, the production polisher of folk-rockers The Decemberists. It may be her best work. The jazzy drums and string lines lend a Pentangle-ish air to the lovely 'Last Leaves of Autumn' and 'Magpie', while the waltz of piano and viola gives a Weimar cabaret feel to 'See Through Blue’."—The Independent

"Opening track 'Magpie' glistens with tension and recalls the brooding tone of her 1999 single 'Stolen Car.' Elsewhere, Orton conjures a sweeter sound: 'Dawn Chorus' sounds like a lullaby, while her easygoing vocals on 'State of Grace' match the relaxed sound of her rolling guitar line. But Orton is at her best when she's a bit more pensive. 'Last Leaves of Autumn,' a sparse piano ballad, provides the album's highlight, as Orton settles in to a deliberate pace that is both reflective and mesmerizing…. A welcome return from this long-silent songwriter."—Washington Post